Thematic Bible
Ecclesiastes 8:1 (show verse)
And who knows the interpretation of a matter?
A man’s wisdom illumines his face,
And causes his stern face to beam.
Ecclesiastes 8:2 (show verse)
I counsel you to keep the command of the king because of the oath before God [by which you swore loyalty to him].
duties of Citizens » General references to
Civic duties » General references to
Discerning » Who discerns
Duties » Of citizens » General references to
Heart » The heart of the wise
King » Obedience to, encouraged
Loyalty » Encouraged
Nation » Duty to
Oaths » Of allegiance
Oaths » Used for » Pledging allegiance to sovereigns
Obedience » Who to obey
Obedience » Those that obey the king
The Nation » Ps 137; ro 13 miscellaneous topics relating to, government, kings, rulers, etc » Civic duties
Civic duties » General references to
Discerning » Who discerns
Duties » Of citizens » General references to
Heart » The heart of the wise
King » Obedience to, encouraged
Loyalty » Encouraged
Nation » Duty to
Oaths » Of allegiance
Oaths » Used for » Pledging allegiance to sovereigns
Obedience » Who to obey
Obedience » Those that obey the king
The Nation » Ps 137; ro 13 miscellaneous topics relating to, government, kings, rulers, etc » Civic duties
Ecclesiastes 8:3 (show verse)
Do not be in a hurry to get out of his presence. Do not join in a malevolent matter, for the king will do whatever he pleases.
Ecclesiastes 8:4 (show verse)
For the word of a king is authoritative and powerful,
And who will say to him, “What are you doing?”
Ecclesiastes 8:5 (show verse)
Whoever keeps and observes a royal command will experience neither trouble nor misery;
For a wise heart will know the
Ecclesiastes 8:6 (show verse)
For there is a
Though mankind’s misery and trouble lies heavily upon him [who rebels against the king].
Ecclesiastes 8:7 (show verse)
For no one knows what will happen;
So who can tell him how and when it will happen?
Ecclesiastes 8:8 (show verse)
There is no man who has power and authority over the wind to restrain the wind,
Nor does he have authority over the day of death;
There is no discharge [from service] during time of war,
And evil will not rescue those who [actively seek to] practice it.
Certainties » Sobering » Certainty of death
death » Universality of
death » No man having power over death
death » Great reaper » Resistance is in vain
natural Death » Lot of all
Deliverance » What cannot deliver
Dying » Universality of
human Limitations » Man subject to » Time limited
Man » Mortality of » Universality of
Man » Limitations of » Time limited
Man » Cannot retain his spirit from death
Seven » Certainties, seven that face the unrepentant sinner » Certainty of death
Spirit/souls » There being no man that has power over the spirit
Universal » Blessing, possible » death
War » Illustrative of » Our contest with death
Wickedness » What wickedness cannot do
death » Universality of
death » No man having power over death
death » Great reaper » Resistance is in vain
natural Death » Lot of all
Deliverance » What cannot deliver
Dying » Universality of
human Limitations » Man subject to » Time limited
Man » Mortality of » Universality of
Man » Limitations of » Time limited
Man » Cannot retain his spirit from death
Seven » Certainties, seven that face the unrepentant sinner » Certainty of death
Spirit/souls » There being no man that has power over the spirit
Universal » Blessing, possible » death
War » Illustrative of » Our contest with death
Wickedness » What wickedness cannot do
Ecclesiastes 8:9 (show verse)
All this I have seen while applying my mind to every deed that is done under the sun. There is a time in which one man has exercised power over others to their detriment.
No Themes for this verse.
Ecclesiastes 8:10 (show verse)
So then, I have seen the wicked buried, those who used to go in and out of the holy place [but did not thereby escape their doom], and they are [praised in spite of their evil and] soon forgotten in the city where they did such things. This too is futility (vanity, emptiness).
Ecclesiastes 8:11 (show verse)
Because the sentence against an evil act is not executed quickly, the hearts of the sons of men are fully set to do evil.
divine Delays » In inflicting punishment
Error » Sin's penalty » Penalty sometimes delayed
Evil » Heart evil, characteristics of » Stubbornness
Heart » The unregenerate » Is full of iniquity
Heart » Evil, characteristics of » Stubbornness
Heart » Sinful » Stubbornness
character of the unrenewed Heart » Fully set to do evil
Impenitence » Warnings against
Longsuffering Of God » The wicked » Abuse
delayed Penalty » Sin's penalty sometimes delayed
Punishment » Capital Punishment » Delayed
Punishment » Delayed
Punishment of the The Wicked » Deferred, emboldens them in sin
Security » FALSE » Leads to increased guilt
Sin » Penalty for » Penalty sometimes delayed
Sinful » Heart » Stubbornness
Sins » Penalty » Penalty sometimes delayed
Transgression » Sin's penalty » Penalty sometimes delayed
Error » Sin's penalty » Penalty sometimes delayed
Evil » Heart evil, characteristics of » Stubbornness
Heart » The unregenerate » Is full of iniquity
Heart » Evil, characteristics of » Stubbornness
Heart » Sinful » Stubbornness
character of the unrenewed Heart » Fully set to do evil
Impenitence » Warnings against
Longsuffering Of God » The wicked » Abuse
delayed Penalty » Sin's penalty sometimes delayed
Punishment » Capital Punishment » Delayed
Punishment » Delayed
Punishment of the The Wicked » Deferred, emboldens them in sin
Security » FALSE » Leads to increased guilt
Sin » Penalty for » Penalty sometimes delayed
Sinful » Heart » Stubbornness
Sins » Penalty » Penalty sometimes delayed
Transgression » Sin's penalty » Penalty sometimes delayed
Ecclesiastes 8:12 (show verse)
Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and his life [seemingly] is prolonged [in spite of his wickedness], still I know that it will be well with those who [reverently] fear God, who fear and worship Him openly [realizing His omnipresence and His power].
Ecclesiastes 8:13 (show verse)
But it will not be well for the evil man, nor will he lengthen his days like a shadow, because he does not fear God.
Ecclesiastes 8:14 (show verse)
There is a meaningless and futile thing which is done on the earth: that is, there are righteous men whose gain is as though they were evil, and evil men whose gain is as though they were righteous. I say that this too is futility (meaningless, vain).
No Themes for this verse.
Ecclesiastes 8:15 (show verse)
Then I commended pleasure and enjoyment, because a man [without God] has no better thing under the sun than to eat and to drink and to be merry, for this will stand by him in his toil through the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 8:16 (show verse)
When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to see the activities [of mankind] that take place upon the earth—how some men seem to sleep neither day nor night—
Ecclesiastes 8:17 (show verse)
and I saw all the work of God, I concluded that man cannot discover the work that is done under the sun. Even though man may labor in seeking, he will not discover; and [more than that], though a wise man thinks and claims he knows, he will not be able to find it out.